In the modern period, important world events and social trends forever altered the Western world. Industrialization, globalization, class upheaval and challenges to traditional family structures changed the face of Western society. Amidst this upheaval, the Western visual culture rapidly changed. Familiar stereotypes developed. Powerful propaganda was created. Artists strove to imbue their images with raw psychological power. In this class, we will explore the relationship between art and power in the 19th and 20th centuries. We will also consider the legacy of modern art for our 21st-century visual culture.